by BILL HEANEY
Holyrood must break its “consensus of silence” on education, Michael Marra will say today, as the Scottish Labour leader pledges to put education policy at the heart of Scottish politics again.
Marra will make the call, stating that Scottish politics has ignored growing crises in education such as violence, attendance and attainment in schools, funding for colleges and universities, and a skills shortage for employers.
The new Scottish Labour leader has said he will work constructively across party lines at Holyrood to fix these problems, but that it requires honest debate from all parties about what is working and what isn’t.
Scottish Labour leader Michael Marra said: “The most important investment any government can make is in its people, starting with giving our young people the opportunity to have a fair go in life.
“Half the Scottish cabinet, including the First Minister himself, have served as Education Secretary. We have a former teacher as Deputy First Minister, yet around Holyrood there has been a conspiracy of silence on education.
“The PISA results should sting the pride of any patriotic Scottish politician, and it should spur us into action.
“In Germany. the first PISA scores led to an emergency response from the government and a series of national reforms. In Scotland, years of decline have led to barely a shrug of the shoulders.
“On attendance, violence, and attainment, our schools need politicians to rise to the challenge. Our colleges and universities face huge funding gaps, and our employers report skills gaps while too many Scots are left unable to access good work.
“I’ll work in good faith across party lines in Holyrood to make Scottish education the best in the world again – I hope other parties are up to the challenge.”